The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-17
THE LUCK OF "PITTsBURa PHIL"
How He Makes His Money Plunging on
the Horses.
From the Nh York World.

FROM tHS NcW 1uTh " OIUt.
WASHINGTON, Nov 13.--Pittsburg Phil,
the boy plunger, sat in the billiard room of
Wizards Hotel last Saturday night watch
ing game of billiards lie is a smooth
faced young fellow, quiet in his dress and
manner, and has just reached his majority.
lie has bet more money on horse races this
year than any other man in the country,
and with such fabulous success that at Sara
toga the book-nakers finally refused his
money. Phil has laid away about 100000
as result of the seasons betting, and now
that all is over he is going to spend his
money travelling.
I've been pretty lucky here in Washing
ton, he said, land have won very close to
$4,000. My biggest winnings were $1,000
on Barnum, s., 600 on Patrocles and $1,000
| on Father Bill Days Valiant. They broke
very bad for me in Baltimore, and during
the meeting dropped 81, 200.
'How do beat the racese Well. l play
| the horses on their form. People grumble
about their losses, but they would not lose
as often if only they'd take into account the
accidents in a race. You see horse to-day
at even money. He loses, and the next day
there Is five to one against him. 1t may be
that he only lost because of jostle or some
other little accident There aren't five men
who bet who watch the horses while they
are running. l always do. l never bet on
jumping races simply because you can't
judge horse OH form in jumping races. I've
often played one race a day and only
watched the rest. I've put a bet down
when the horses broke away two or three
times, and put as high as $1,000 on at that.
Another point is that / play on the idea
that luck is always going to turn. If l lose
81 200, generally bet $4,000 to get even,
and if lost that I'd double up again, and SO
D. 1,,alx he 1ft,e,
| in crowd or sitting around place like
| this and there'u be some one don't know me
| will open fire on me- heard fellow say
| to-day that wouldn't get wet if | dropped
| into water, but he said my luck was sure to
turn some day and that I'd go BROKE. I'd
| like to bet him on that, only don't make
any wagers outside the horses. It's very
seldom play jockeys, but I've been pretty
| lucky on Garrison's and McLaughlin's
mounts. don't often taken stable tips, ex-
cepting tips on Richmond, and I've made
| lots of money on him.
1.-The biggest bet ever won was Just after
| was barred out by the bookmakers at
| Saratoga. | went to Monmouth Park and
put neat little sum on CambySes. I got
odds of fifteen to one straight and six to one
| for place, and pulled off a clean $50, 600
1t was the closest race l ever played, and
| Bannerbearer, who came in second, was less
he'd have spoiled my prospects for that day
Another big winner made on Richmond at
| Sheepshead Bay. He ran against such
horses as EurIls, Exile, Wickham and Peri
Giles, and he won ecsy, although the odd;
offered against him were eight to one. That
race brought me in $4,000 The biggest
wager 1 ever lost was $4,000 on Brait al
Jerome Park don't know how first came
to get into the newspapers. One thing
that made good deal of talk was the time
got played for a sleeper at Monmouth
Park, bet 500 on good winner and an
other man be J. He got my ticket and
| got his He swore ON two churches he made
the bet, and we had TO leave it to Judge
Withers to decide. He sized us both up anC
gave me the big ticket. 1t was worth about
| 1000
why don't buy a string of horses my
selfs Well, good many lucky betters
have done that thing, but I believe it:
easier to beat 'em than to win with 'em
I'm going to go to Florida for short time
after leave here, and then I'll go to Cali
fornia. Tn going to see a good deal of the
country before another season opens"